Fernando Malard, OFCdesk This class will introduce the Forge platform from the perspective of an early adopter – starting with business aspects, paradigm shift, cloud concepts, and the future of Autodesk cloud platform strategy. We will cover some of the technical challenges with web programming from the perspective of someone migrating from a desktop programming environment to the cloud, and discuss how to overcome them. We will then walk through some simple yet representative code samples helping you to get started with the Forge platform through Model Derivative API and Design Automation services.

1. Fernando Malard
CTO – ofcdesk, llc
From desktop to the cloud with Forge

2. • Introduction
• From Desktop to the Cloud
• Cloud resources
• Autodesk Forge
• View&Data and AutoCAD I/O
• Conclusion
Agenda

3. Introduction

4. This class will introduce the Forge platform starting with
business aspects, paradigm shift, cloud concepts and the
future of Autodesk cloud platform strategy. We will introduce
and present technical challenges with web programming,
how to overcome them and take full advantage of cloud
resources leveraging your business. We will then present
some simple yet representative code samples helping you to
get started with the Forge platform through View & Data and
AutoCAD I/O services.
Class summary

5. From Desktop to the Cloud

6. “It’s clear now that while organizations may
have come to the cloud to reduce costs, it’s not
why they stay. The true potential of cloud lies
in an organization’s ability to leverage this agile
delivery model to transform the business.”
Rick Wright, Principal and Global Cloud Enablement Leader at
KPMG
From Desktop to the Cloud – Agile delivery

7. From Desktop to the Cloud - Usage
*KPMG: 2014 Cloud Survey Report

8. From Desktop to the Cloud – Improvements / Challenges
*KPMG: 2014 Cloud Survey Report

9. From Desktop to the Cloud – Facts
Desktop
• Download & install
• High resource demand
• Security and setup time
• High initial investment
• Poor file/data sharing
• Vulnerable information
• Per user license
• Complex backups
Cloud
• Fast disaster recovery
• Centralized maintenance
• Low initial investment
• Enhances teamwork
• Centralized file storage
• Accessible to small businesses

10. From Desktop to the Cloud – Development
• New languages and paradigms
• Libraries and packages
• Client-server architecture

11. From Desktop to the Cloud – Data security
• Access control
• Token based authentication
• Encrypted user data storage

12. From Desktop to the Cloud – Debugging / testing
• Desktop debugging
• Web debugging
• Browser cache…Refresh!

13. Cloud resources

14. Cloud computing isn’t a new thing.
Project SETI@home was launched in 1999.
Cloud resources - Computing

15. • Amazon AWS
• Microsoft Azure
Cloud resources - Servers

16. • Overall cost reduction
• T.C.O. – The IT guy?
Cloud resources – Storage, CPU, costs

17. • New storage technologies – Project Natick
Cloud resources – Storage, CPU, costs

18. Autodesk Forge

19. • Powerful core engines
• Consumed via web services
• Zero-client installs
• Web based interfaces
• Major Browsers supported
• WebGL for viewing
• JavaScript for client programming
Autodesk Forge

20. • http://forge.autodesk.com
• Design (AutoCAD I/O)
• Visualize (View&Data)
• Collaborate
• Use
• Make
Autodesk Forge

21. • REST = Representational State Transfer
• Based on resources
• Used for cloud solutions through web services
• Web services calls: GET, PUT, POST and DELETE
• Work with HTTP responses
• Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)
• Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
• Uniform Resource Name (URN)
Autodesk Forge - Technologies

22. • OData = Open Data Protocol
• Simplifies business logic
• Easy access to data and services from any client
Autodesk Forge - Technologies

23. • OAuth = Open Standard for Authorization
• Based on access tokens issued
• Uses an authorization
server
• Three-legged workflow*
• Scoping*
Autodesk Forge - Technologies

24. The challenge:
• Product specification tool
• Accessible and easy to use
• Avoid desktop installation
• Rich zero-client 3D viewer
• Integrated with custom data
Autodesk Forge – Use case / ofcdesk Connect

25. The solution: Autodesk Forge
• Simple web interface
• No desktop software
• No installation
• WebGL 3D viewer
• Dedicated servers
Autodesk Forge – Use case / ofcdesk Connect

26. Autodesk Forge – Use case / ofcdesk Connect

27. View&Data and AutoCAD I/O

28. • New name: Design Automation API
• Create, edit or query DWG files
• Save DWG files to other formats
• Run AutoCAD native commands (non-UI)
• Simplify the DWG manipulation process
• Scalable resources (run at Autodesk cloud)
• Extensible with apps (CRX, DBX, LSP and DLL)
Autodesk Forge – AutoCAD I/O

29. Abstractions:
• AppPackage: Extensions in DBX, CRX, LSP or DLL
modules, written in AutoLISP, C++ or .NET
• Activity: Pre-configured action, in AutoCAD script
language, that can refer to one or more AppPackages
• WorkItem: Represents each execution of your Activities
(actions) providing input and output parameter values
Autodesk Forge – AutoCAD I/O

30. Autodesk Forge – AutoCAD I/O
AutoCAD I/O
Your
Cloud
AppPackage 1
AppPackage 2
AppPackage 3
Activity A
Activity B
Activity C
WorkItem A
WorkItem B
WorkItem C

31. • New name: Viewer API
• Upload models via REST API
• Return a viewing stream
• Access to model data using JavaScript
• Rich 2D and 3D models into the web browser
• No plug-in, runs in Chrome, Safari, IE11, Firefox
• More than 60 design file formats
Autodesk Forge – View&Data

32. Abstractions and concepts:
• Bucket: It is a storage folder where you upload the input
files. Can be Transient, Temporary or Persistent
• OSS: Object Storage Service is responsible for storing and
maintaining, secured by OAuth 2.0, uploaded files
• Viewing Services: Translation service with the input URN
then return other URN to stream the resulting model
Autodesk Forge – View&Data

33. Autodesk Forge – View&Data
View & Data
Your
Cloud
Bucket
Viewing Services
WebGL
Viewer
File Upload
URN result

34. Workflow:
• Upload empty DWG to AWS and receive URL
• Collect user input data from a web page
• Submit URL and script to AutoCAD I/O service
• Receive processed DWG
• Submit DWG to View&Data service
• Receive URN for viewing
Autodesk Forge – Sample

35. Amazon
S3
Autodesk Forge - Sample
AutoCAD I/O
Your
Cloud
View & Data
forgedevcon2016
Viewing Services
Upload processed DWG
WebGL
Viewer
forge2016CreateCloset
PlotToPNG
BlankIso.dwg
URL
processed DWG
PNG image
Download URN
DWG
PNG

36. GIT:
https://github.com/Developer-Autodesk/
/design.automation-workflow-winform-sample
/workflow-aspdotnet-autocad.io
/library-dotnet-autocad.io
Autodesk Forge – Sample

37. Conclusion

38. • Cloud is a business evolution
• Scalable, ubiquitous, reliable
• Hide complexity from users
• Reduce cost of ownership and maintenance
• Forge APIs available as web services
• Bring the power of desktop apps to the cloud
• Enrich cloud solutions
Conclusion

39. Get Started!
Developer.Autodesk.com
Forge.Autodesk.com
@AutodeskForge
Facebook.com/adskForge